Martin Frobisher was an English seaman and explorer who is best known for his attempts to discover the Northwest Passage, a sea route through the Arctic connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He made three voyages to the Arctic in the late 16th century, and although he did not find the passage, he did explore and map parts of the Canadian Arctic. Frobisher also played a role in the early English attempts to establish a colony in North America. His expeditions and contributions to exploration have left a lasting impact on the history of maritime exploration.